The rain forest is a biodiverse ecological system that encompasses two-third of the plant life on earth. There are two types of rainforests – tropical and temperate.
The tropical rainforests, which is possibly the most popular, originates from the Central and South American regions and is a distinct and diverse vegetative region characterized by their humidity and warmness and the temperate rainforest famous for its dense vegetation.
The rain forest is home to diverse, unique species of plants, and we have put together a list of the different types of plants in the rainforest for your greenery pleasure.
Table of Contents
Different Types of Plants in the Rainforest
Here is a list of the different types of plants in the rainforest:
1. Bromeliads Plant (Bromeliaceae)
The bromeliads are species of plants that grow in the rainforest. These plants have a waxy, thick leaf that forms a bowl-shape, which enables those collects to rain in their foliage.
Because of this feature and their beautiful colored foliage, they harbor up to 10 gallons of water, which serve as a reservoir or host for housing house plants such as water-loving fish, amphibians, and insects.
Bromeliads are affiliated to the pineapple family of plants (Ananas comosus and other species include tillandsias (Tillandsia spp and strap air plants (Catopsis spp.).
2. Emergent Plant
The emergent trees are the massive trees with tall statures like that of a tower ranging from a height of 115 to 230 feet. They have a large trunk of about 7 feet tall.
They develop braces that can expand to a range of 30 feet. To help support the massive boxes. The emergent wears an umbrella-formed look at their tops, and they are broadly dispersed. These trees can survive in dry and breezy winds as a result of their height.
The product is usually small, pointed leaves because of the seed dispersion caused by the wind. The kapok tree is an example of an emergent.
Read Also: Different Types of Plants in The Desert
3. Heliconia Flower (Lobster-Claw)
Known as the Hanging Lobster Claw, this colorful Amazonian vegetation blossoms and spreads a shade while providing diverse shapes and sizes.
They have a distinctively long structure; they run from 0.5 to almost 4.5 meters (1.5–15 feet) tall, although this is determined upon the species, and their leaves are 15–300 cm (6 in-10 ft.) in size.
Heliconia flower thrives best in damp and warm conditions. Hence, they are easily seen in the tropical rainforests of the world.
Hanging Lobster Claw also has a mutual relationship with Birds In the biological family called Trochilidae, which depends on Heliconia plants for shelter and food. They are also the essential pollinators of the plant.
4. Orchid Plant
Orchids are one of the most contrasting plant families founds in the rain forest. They have the most-cherished flowers you can find in the tropical region. Their fragile and regularly brilliant blossoms have a novel shape, and there are different varieties to experience.
The orchids have a complicated but elaborate relationship with pollinators, orchids captivated scientists like Charles Darwin, and he wrote on their fertilization components in On the Origin of Species.
He additionally wrote a whole book committed to orchid fertilization called Fertilization of Orchids (1862).
Orchids are diverse, beautiful, and well scented, such that while exploring Amazonian flowers, you can easily recognize the scent of certain species before you see the plant.
Many individuals are unaware that the most popular orchid is the vanilla orchid and is the main orchid with business use. Other prominent ornamental options include the shoe orchids with their shoe like blossoms and orchids in the family Phalaenopsis and Cymbidium, which are found in many flower shops.
One of the main fragrant species found in the Amazon rain forest is the orchid Prosthechea fragrans.
Read Also: Different Types of Ocean Plants
5. Passion flowers (Passiflora spp.)
Passionflowers are one of the most loved flowers to experience in the rainforest. A complete species of animals pollinate the beautiful blossoms, such as hummingbirds, honey bees, bats, and even wasps. In most cases, numerous types of passion flowers prefer a specific pollinator.
A wide range of varieties and colors of passion flowers spreads across the tropical rainforests of South America. Some appear as woody plants, and others are bushes with beautiful blossoms from all-white through to colorful red.
In the tropical rainforest, the product of Passiflora edulis is the most popular species, and its organic products are utilized in juices and sweets.
Other passionflower species have been used in ancestral medication for an extended period.
6. Lianas
Lianas is a grouping of how a plant develops into climbing woody plants, for example, a tree, hedge, or bush. Numerous plant species grow as lianas, even though the most distinct kind of plant in a tropical rainforest, lianas are frequently neglected.
These woody plants are what hold up large trees in a comprehensive and elaborate system. This is because tropical rainforests have shallow soil, and plants offer the framework.
This additionally implies that when giant trees fall, the plants cut down encircling trees and opening up the covering for seedlings and the development of the upcoming generation.
Lianas develop to around 200 meters (650 ft.) with some developing and connecting more plants and trees. The plants start their lifecycle on the forest floor like other rainforest plants and afterward grow towards daylight using trees as help.
Rainforest residents use some varieties for drinking water, while others are a source of toxic substances, for example, the popular curare.
7. Vines
The Rainforests houses more than 2,500 types of vines, of 90% of the world's total. Numerous rainforest vines develop, starting from top to bottom of the roots through the hidden under layers of the stem.
An example of vine species is the strangler fig (Ficus aurea), a parasitic plant with thick foliage and thick roots that, in the future, kills its host plant.
The rattan plant (Berchemia scandens), which utilizes its spiky foliage to clutch trees; and the lianas, which have thick woody stems and grow up to 3,000 feet in length.
8. Rubber Tree (Hevea brasiliensis)
Conservatively, the rubber tree is one of the most resourceful trees in the Amazon rainforest for natives of some communities.
The rubber tree's sap is latex, and until today is utilized in the modernized production of plastic. The elasticity of the rubber tree can make it reach a height of up to 100 feet (30 m).
When cut or harmed, the inner bark of the tree overflows with latex, and it is quite a fantastic sight to behold.
In the early days, this plant was local to the Amazon rainforest. However, its seeds were in the end wrongfully pirated to Southeast Asia, where the tree effectively spread.
9. Cacao (Theobroma cacao)
Who dislikes chocolate? We can’t picture anyone who does. Regardless of being one of the world's favorite sweet treats, the cacao plant is likewise a beneficial food that is stacked with medical benefits for healthy living.
Ensure to make unrefined organic Cacao a portion of your regular eating regimen to derive crude energy, good mental sharpness, and agility.
Additionally, Cacao has more calcium than dairy animals' milk and is the most popular plant iron derivative. It's also loaded with magnesium for a solid heart and mind.
10. Giant Water Lilies (Victoria amazonica)
These blossoms were named after Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. When you vacate in a jungle or explore an Amazon River voyage, one of the first eye-catchy plants you see are Victoria water lilies.
Unlike the regular lilies, the Victoria water lilies grow up to 3 meters in measurement.
11. Monkey Brush Vine (Combretum rotundifolium)
The Monkey Brush Vine is a one of a kind flower, extraordinarily colorful and adorned with a striking orange color that can easily be spotted among rainforest greenery. The name “monkey brush” is believed to have originated from the bloom’s long and beautiful stamen.
Monkey Brush Vine is a mysterious plant that grows like a parasite on different trees and plants all through the forest. They act as a host plant serving food to hummingbirds and shelters to green iguanas.
The bloom is exceptionally splendid, a striking orange shading that can undoubtedly be seen among rainforest greenery.
12. Indian Timber Bamboo (Bambusa Tulsa)
Another tropical rainforest plants, Indian Timber Bamboo is native to the South Asian rainforests. The most prominent member of the grass family. A few types of bamboo can grow 90 cm (3 ft.) in one day!
Indian Timber Bamboo is an incredibly valuable type of bamboo. As its name implies, it can be used to make furniture. It is likewise used to make musical instruments and papers. It develops in South Asian rainforests.
Bamboo is the largest member of the grass family that develops in South Asian rainforests. Some species of bamboo can grow 90 cm (3 ft.) in one day!
Further Readings:
- Types Of Succulents
- Names of Flowers in Alphabetical Order
- When To Cut Back Plants for Winter
- Medicinal Plants And Their Uses
- When to Pick Banana Peppers
Conclusion | Tropical Rainforest Plants
There are more than 80,000 different species of tropical rainforest plants, and these include flowers with special features and adaptations, trees with the unique root system, shrubs, bushes, and many vines that are utilized by man either for commercial or food purposes.
Although no list can mention all of the different types of plants in the rainforest, this list still provides you with the basic knowledge of the types and uses of diverse plants found in rain forest regions.
More than two-thirds of the world's plant species are found in the tropical rainforests: plants that provide shelter and food for rainforest animals as well as taking part in the gas exchanges which provide much of the world's oxygen supply.
